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Port of Entry (POE) is the immigration check counter at
the destination airport of the USA. Upon your arrival
in the USA, you will have to pass through this counter
where the immigration/customs officre will ask you certain
questions, after which, your passport will be stamped
and you will be given the I-94 counter slip. Remember
the date given on your I-94 is the limit of your legal
status in this country and not the date on the Visa.
Generally question are related to your length of stay,
address of stay etc.
It is possible that the officer may expect some reasonable
answer for
"Why you want to stay 3 months? or why you want
to stay 6 months?". Travlers are also required to have thier digital photo
and digital finger print, according to a newly enabled
security program called US-Visit. Travelers entering
at most of the airport (115 airports) and 14 seaports
are now required to present fingerprints and pose for
a digital photograph under a new security program called
us-visit.
Here is a step-by-step process of what happens at port of entry when you enter into USA.
New entry procedures took effect this year Jan. At
the entry point immigration/customs counter the officer
takes the finger print and digial picture for the purpose
of maintaining the arrival record.
In summary: This is what happens at the port
of entry: 1. Immigration officer look for your travel documents(
passport, visa, I-94 form). 2. May ask questions , about your usa visit. 3. Take digital picture and digital finger print.(known
as us-visit program) 4. Stamp your passport and provide a departure date
on I-94.
I94 related information: Always double check the dates and other relevant information
on the I94.
If there is any mistake like Type of Visa, Date given
by the officer is not correct you should immediately
let the officer know and get it corrected.
In case you noticed that the information is not correct
later. Contact your local CBP
(Customs) office or call 1- 877-CBP -5511 Monday-Friday,
between 8:30 and 5:00 Eastern Time.
How to convince the immigration
officer at the port of entry as to why you should stay
for longer period of time? For parents visiting USA, this should
not be a big problem, but they still need to satisfy
the officer with a proper and genuine answer, which
justifys the longer stay. Possible reasons : Emphasis on meeting their children,
grand children, relatives and a plan to tour around
in USA, which requires more time, etc. 
Tips
- The sponsor can write a simple formal letter
stating the problem of communication in English
language for those parents who can't communicate
in English properly, requesting the officer to allow
for a 6 months stay for their parents, while citing
the above possible reasons.
( A sample letter is provided at the end of this
page
- Parents who can communicate well in English should
be able to convince the officer themselves with
same above said reasons.
- It greatly helps to state the said reasons confidenlty
and politely.
A sample letter may look like this: [Invitee's Name] [Address] To, The Immigration Officer, [Airport's Name] Dear Sir/Madam, I, [Name of Invitee's], residing at the above address,
am writing on behalf of my parents/mother/father, [Name
of the visitor(s)], since they/he/she can't understand
and speak English properly. The purpose of their/his/her
visit, is to spend time with us, and also tour around
the country. I will be accompany them/him/her, during
their/his/her tour. Since I am a full time worker, I can only show them/him/her
around and take them/him/her to various places on week-ends
and long week ends. A six months stay would thus allow
them/him/her not only to do this, but also to spend
some quality time with me. They/He/She already have/has
a return ticket for [Month, Year] and I have obtained
the health insurance for them/him/her for a period of
six months. Therefore, I kindly request you to grant
them/him/her a longer stay in the USA and let them/him/her
to stay for 6 months in the U.S.A. Thanks in advacne. [Invitee's Name]
[Full Address]
[Phone number] * The information in the
brackets, of course, needs be filled the the relevant
real data.
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